Making the world safe and secure from emerging infectious and neglected tropical diseases by applying One Health – the synergy of animal, human, and environmental sciences – to global health and security.

COLLEGE STATION,
Texas - The Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine
& Biomedical Sciences (CVM) announces Dr. Gerald W. Parker as
the new Associate Dean for Global One Health. The appointment is
housed within the CVM.

In this role, he will serve as Campus Director for Global One
Health for Texas A&M University and also will hold joint
appointments in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, as
strategic advisor of the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases
in AgriLife Research, and the Bush School of Government &
Public Service, as Director of the Biosecurity and Pandemic Policy
Program.

Parker will lead, coordinate, and expand the Global One Health
program to meet its goals of improving global health and actively
engage both national and international partners in pursuing
innovated health solutions.

A U.S. Army veteran with combined military and civilian federal
public service of more than 36 years, Parker’s federal experience
culminated with his service as the deputy assistant Secretary of
Defense for chemical and biological defense in the U.S. Department
of Defense.

Parker also served as the principal deputy assistant secretary
within the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Parker
led the coordination of DHHS-wide efforts to prepare for and
respond to public health and medical emergencies. In this
role, he also served as a focal point for operational and policy
coordination with the White House, Congress, other federal
departments, state and local officials, private sector leaders, and
international authorities that includes disaster responses to
Hurricane Katrina to the Haiti earthquake, and the 2009 influenza
pandemic.

Prior to joining the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences, Dr. Parker served as the interim director of the
Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases and associate vice
president for public health preparedness and response at the Texas
A&M Health Science Center.

“We are honored to have Dr. Parker join our team in the College
of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences,” said Dr. Eleanor
Green, the Carl B. King dean of veterinary medicine. “With his many
talents, career experiences, and widespread reputation, he will
help us realize our goals of synergizing the unique strengths
across campus, nationally and internationally, to advance animal,
human, and environmental health in a shared ecosystem.”

In 2015, Parker was one of 27 individuals named to the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Advisory
Committee (HSSTAC), which advises the department’s Undersecretary
for Science and Technology on matters related to the expansion of
technological capabilities. He also serves as an ex officio
member of the Biodefense Blue Ribbon Panel co-chaired by former
Governor Ridge and former Senator Lieberman.

“Dr. Parker is a remarkable scholar, a remarkable administrator,
and a remarkable practitioner,” said Mark A. Welsh III, Dean of the
Bush School of Government and Public Service. “We are honored to
have him join the Bush School faculty in this role and believe he
has the talent, experience, and leadership skills to take
biosecurity and pandemic policy discussions in this country to a
new level.”

During his military career, he served in many roles, including
former commander and deputy commander of the U.S. Army Medical
Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

In 2009, Parker was recognized with the Distinguished Executive
Presidential Rank Award, the highest annual recognition for senior
executive service personnel and the Secretary of Defense Medal for
Civilian Meritorious Service in 2013.

Parker holds a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Texas A&M
University, a doctorate in physiology from Baylor College of
Medicine, and a master’s degree in resourcing the national strategy
from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Texas A&M University One Health is the collaborative effort of
multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to
attain sustainable optimal health for the ecosystem.

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For more information about Texas A&M Global One Health and the
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.